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the extremely debilitating power of addicting drugs was recognized, many
American cities and states--starting with San Francisco in 1875--began
passing anti-drug laws. In 1906, the Pure Food & Drug Act forced the
patent medicine industry to list on the label the presence of certain
dangerous drugs such as alcohol, opiates, cocaine, and cannabis. America became an international leader in the movement to restrict addicting drugs solely to medical use. Knowing how bitterly the Chinese resented the opium trade, the United States hoped to gain their favor, thereby increasing |
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legitimate trade. A diplomat reported to the President, "Our move
to help China in her opium reform gave us more prestige in China than
any of our recent friendly acts." But the anti-drug movement also
reflected American altruism. The U.S. State Department helped lay the
framework for successful international controls and helped to secure passage
of America’s first national drug laws. These controls, domestic law enforcement, and a societal shunning of these much-feared substances combined to largely eliminate heroin and cocaine from American life for close to half a century. With each passing decade, drug use so declined that by World War II, drugs were viewed as a largely solved social ill. |
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